Our Year End Blowout Sale! Comic Shoppe@6pm & Afronerd @7pm! Avengers; Dark Knight; Aurora & Sandy Hook shootings & More! OH and Daryll B.'s Link Suggestions!

Well we made it to another year, people! From the crew at Afronerd, we wish you a prosperous, informative and especially SAFE New Year! To make things immensely easy and digestible, listen to The Comic Shoppe's "Podcast Avengers" tonight at 6pm as they summarize the highlights of 2012 in pop and pulp culture. A discussion of expectations for 2013 (i.e. new comics, video games, movies, TV shows, etc) will also be integral to this year end broadcast. Call the hosts live at: 646-915-9620!

And what kind of show would we have without a year end colloquium on Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk, starting at 7pm. Join Dburt and Captain this evening as they encapsulate the year's top stories (i.e. the death of Whitney Houston, the re-election of President Barack Obama, the Aurora and Sandy Hook shootings, Hurricane Sandy, etc) and Dburt will discuss briefly America's slave legacy in the wake of last week's highly successful slave themed film, Django: Unchained.

Our Year End Blowout Sale! Comic Shoppe@6pm & Afronerd @7pm!

And now some linkage from The Shoppe's Daryll B:

I hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and even though I am not around for this upcoming Sunday, you just knew that Daryll B. would have a bunch of articles for an AfroNerd LinkBlog!

-It is the season:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/stan-lee-reads-twas-the-night-before-christmas/

What comic nerd with a heart could resist that? And on that note...

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/19/barack-obama-spider-man-child-costume-picture/

..even the Prez can't break Wee Spidey's webbing!

-Sometimes I really love devoted fans:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42806

Welcome back Gail!

-3 weeks left and I'm not doing fine:

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/23/fringe-season-5-5-questions-about-anomaly-xb-6783746

Ok I still think that this kid Michael is Peter and FauxOlivia's that was "erased" and eventually will grow up to be September. The great thing is, I used to say stuff like this and 97% of you would be confused. Now it probably only 75%.. I'd say that's progress...

-I can't believe that I'm going to say this but this news is bittersweet....

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/21/walking-dead-season-4-confirmed/

I got to admit without Glen Mazzara going forward, i am worried that Robert Kirkman by himself won't have the clout to keep "studio suits" from implementing "suggestions" to "improve" the show...

-Combine childlike love with soulcrushing adulthood and you'll get:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/21/louis-ck-peanuts-charlie-brown-video-mash-up-holiday/

I hope Charles Schultz got a laugh out of this whereever he is now...

-Chris Sims gives his best Christmas Movie ever:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/21/ask-chris-133-the-best-christmas-movie-ever/

Yippie-Ki-Yea to all...and to all....*BOOM!*.... was that an explosion?

-Maybe times are changing...?

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/20/chinese-tv-shows-v-for-vendetta-movie-censorship-reform-discussions/

Can we talk Tibet now?

-Season Premiere Announcements!

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/14/dc-nation-returns-cartoon-network-january-5/

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/21/ultimate-spider-man-season-2-january/

DC Nation January 5th! Ultimate Spidey January 21th! Daryll Being pissed on how both channels have handled their cartoon properties? Never-ending!

-Finally, Free Comic Book Day falls on May 4th and Comics Alliance has a complete listing of the "gold" and "silver" line books that you can pick up for you and the little ones around you:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/06/free-comic-book-day-2013-gold-books/

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/12/13/free-comic-book-day-silver-sponsors-comics/

You have heard the show. You already might know which books I'll be positioning/fighting for.....

Again, I'll see you folks after the New Year begins with my typical venom and sass (SyFy's scheduling/handling of Haven in recent weeks and Dan Slott's Spidey fan death threat reception get a pass because I being "nice" *grits teeth*) but you know while I'm gone, SOMEONE's going to mess up badly to earn my ire. I will guarantee you reviews of The Hobbit and Django Unchained by then also. So Until Next Time AfroNerd Readers of all ages: Keep Fantasizing!

Time 4 a Post Xmas Exhale! Afronerd's Mid Week Show @7pm!-Dburt's Django Review; NYT on Guns and Video Games & More!

Well folks....Xmas is over but we're still very much in the holiday season and spirit! As New Years approaches, let's bring in the upcoming year with even more good cheer, edutainment and scholarly analysis. Listen to Dburt and Captain Kirk's this Wednesday at 7pm eastern vaunted Mid Week in Review broadcast as they utilize their conservative (and oftentimes independent) microscopes to peer into the following topical stories: FINALLY, Django: Unchained gets released on Christmas Day and Dburt gives his review (hint: Spike Lee might be off the mark on this one); picking up on some of the issues left on the proverbial floor from prior broadcasts (CNN's last Black in America special, Arsenio Hall's return to late night TV and new South Carolina senator, Tim Scott) and lastly, a recent NY Times piece highlights the surreptitious marketing relationship between gun manufacturers and video game companies. Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

Time 4 a Post Xmas Exhale! Afronerd's Mid Week Show @7pm!

Last Call 4 Egg Nog! Comic Shoppe@6pm & Afronerd@7pm! Spike's Oldboy; 80s Video Gaming; Tim Scott; Django film, Arsenio Returns & More!

In keeping with the Yuletide festivities, the Grindhouse Sundays broadcasts of The Comic Shoppe and Afronerd Radio promise to add additional flavor and edutainment for the holidays. Starting at 6pm, listen to Captain Kirk, Daryll B. and Dburt wax on the following: our holiday gift must haves (or wish we could haves) for the season (i.e. comics, games, DVDs, electronics, hobbies, etc); picking up what we couldn't get to during last week's show-80s video gaming VERSUS current VG standards; if you thought 2012 was a comic geek's heaven, what are we to expect in '13; the Transporter TV series; more on Django: Unchained; Don't call it a comeback! But will Spike Lee's American redux of the South Korean thriller, Oldboy bring the controversial director back to top form? and lastly, is Marvel's Now comic line buy or bust? Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

And then there's Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk airing at 7pm. Join Dburt and The Captain as they unravel the following current event laden mysteries (if it wasn't for those meddling hosts!): miscellaneous musings by Dburt on Greenwich Village, soulless music; the CT Sandy Hook shooting, the homeless, etc; Katt Williams latest performance relating to Jamie Foxx and the Django film; and speaking of Django-director Spike Lee has some words to say about the film and could it become a trilogy?; famed HBCU, Morehouse introduces an LGBT course and with reports of an evolving LGBT student body, what does it even mean to be a Morehouse man in the 21st century?; the NY Times calls newly elected S. Carolina senator, Tim Scott a "token" and lastly, guess who's back? Arsenio Hall's new late night TV show trailer makes it to the net. See you all at 6pm and then 7:00 sharp!

Last Call 4 Egg Nog! Comic Shoppe@6pm & Afronerd@7pm!

It's The Mid Week in Review Show..AGAIN! Wed @7pm sharp! More on the Sandy hook Massacre; TX Thai Restaurant Owner under Fire; CNN Specials & More!

Happy Holidays to our ever loyal listenership! Welcome to the Mid Week in Review edition of Afronerd Radio. Keeping you honest and straight to the point, Dburt and Captain Kirk (AT 7PM est) will unravel the following topics for your aural edification: more discourse relating to the Sandy Hook/CT school shooting (i.e. President Obama, NRA-future gun legislation, potential cultural shift, etc); the owner of a Texas Thai restaurant gets heavy criticism for his anti-White Facebook rant regarding the CT school massacre; and in even more racist news-a college football player gets dropped from his team for a racist tweet levied against the President DURING HIS PUBLIC EULOGY OF THE CT VICTIMS (whoa!) and if time constraints permit, we will revisit issues that were left on the table from the previous broadcast. Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620!

It's The Mid Week in Review Show..AGAIN! Wed @7pm sharp!

Double Your Pleasure! Comic Shoppe@6pm & Afronerd Radio@7pm! Topics-More Man of Steel, Pacific Rim; Sandy Hook Tragedy, RG3 vs Espn's Rob Parker and The Shoppe's Daryll B.'s Latest Musings!

Let's just get to the point, shall we folks? Welcome to Sunday's special Double feature/Grindhouse/Duality broadcast with The Comic Shoppe airing at 6pm and Afronerd Radio batting second at 7pm eastern standard. Listen to your "Podcast Avengers"-Daryll B., Captain Kirk and Dburt discuss the following pop cultural topics: our take on the recently released full trailer for next year's Man of Steel film; directors Joseph Kosinski and Len Wiseman are going back to familiar celluloid territory with another Tron and Mummy, respectively; an IGN.com entry provides us with 10 reasons why video gaming was better in the 80s (or 80s gaming vs the new millennium) and if the new Superman trailer wasn't enough to satiate the senses, Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim trailer makes its debut and if time constraints permit, more JLA movie news with Darkseid and Joseph Gordon Levitt (maybe..). Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

And as custom, Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk rounds out the second half of the festivities starting at 7pm. The Capitan and Dburt will unravel the following topical mysteries: a discussion of the unavoidable and horrific-gun violence strikes a Connecticut grade school; ESPN sports analyst, Rob Parker gets suspended for disparaging remarks toward Redskins QB, RG3; rap artist, The Game appears on The Howard Stern Show confirming Dburt's belief that lower tier behavior defies all logic; a new study shows that the chasm between conservatives and liberals is narrower than once believed and lastly, our impressions of Soledad O'Brien's latest CNN Black in America series-"Who is Black in America?" Join us in the fun starting at 6pm!

Double Your Pleasure! Comic Shoppe@6pm & Afronerd Radio@7pm!

And now let's check out the latest meanderings from The Shoppe's Daryll B.:

Hello Once Again AfroNerd Readers! As promised on last week's ComicShoppe, I Daryll B. will now lead you in a trip down SyFy's 20th Anniversary Special in a style that only I can skewer...

We begin with the early days of the Sci-Fi Channel's formation with clips of the early "pay for play" shows like Twilight Zone and Outer Limits. Then we get into the policies of the network and the early rivalry with sister network USA.. HOLY SNAP! Was that a Welcome to Paradox shout out? Good Gravy! I haven't thought about that show in years. The first segment essentially turns into a retrospective on Sci-Fi's first breakout hit: Stargate SG-1 and its enduring history linked to the network as the show and its spinoffs kept going.

***One downer was no Richard Dean Anderson here. However, we got most of the cast and creators giving us the insider peek on life on the set.***

*Commercial Break* which means I can throw you a quick link here. Fans once again taking the initiative:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/kickstart-my-art-nightwing-the-series/

You just know DC and Warner Bros are not going to let this one go far...

*Commercial Break Over*

The second segment is dedicated to the show FarScape and its growing popularity back then on the network. I will say that I posted a status on Facebook during this that had stated in part: "God I miss FarScape and really need to do a marathon of that show." Quality Sci-Fi show that I always overlook! C'mon it was like Buck Rogers meets The Muppets in Space during Bablyon 5. Now that's cool... and I have been slacking.... Also it was the first show of the multimedia age where the fans really made a movement to save it for another season...

*Commercial Break* Next link... Ron Marz gives the Part 2 of his CrossGen Retrospective:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42418

I still think the company idea would work with the right push...

*Commercial Break Over*

The third segment focused on the Sci-Fi Channel's many miniseries like Taken and The Lost Room. The things I got out of this was that I somehow totally missed Children of Dune and that a lot of the miniseries had a lot of "steampunk" type of technology and imagery. The other half of this segment deals with their "most dangerous night of the week" creature feature/Sci-Fi original movies. Also the other half of my Facebook message is dealt with here: "Roger Corman looks healthier in his old age than I do now!"

*Commercial Break*

No link... I just need to stretch....lol because fourth segment deals with Battlestar Galactica. WooHoo!

*Commercial Break Over*

Battlestar....whew! All you need to know here is that a) Jamie Bamber's English accent is always oft-putting to me after his great "American" type accent during the show was so great. b) Holy Cow! All those beautiful actresses... and what steals the segment for me? A scene from 30 Rock where Salma Hayek pulls off her shirt to reveal a "What The FRAK?" t-shirt. Yummy! c) The theory the creators gave as to why Caprica didn't work. So simple that it makes sense....

*Commercial Break* Next Up: Maybe, just maybe, there's hope for comics' future.....

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/todays_holiday_season_mood_lifter_girl_scouts_making_mini_comics/

*Commercial Break Over*

The fifth segment focuses on the Sci-Fi Channel's long history with reality programming. I forgot that John Edwards had his Crossing Over shows on Sci-Fi. *YAWN* And I am sorry Jaleel, Total BlackOut looks like Fear Factor in tha Dark although I won't lie; seeing some of these people freak out in this show and Scare Tactics is a heck of a good time for my funnybone....

*Commercial Break* Man I am hankering for a Twinkie or 2....:

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/11/29/the-line-it-is-drawn-117-a-fond-farewell-to-hostess/

Great tribute by Brian Cronin and his talented cadre of artists.... Side Note: A very happy 8th anniversary to the Comics Should Be Good Folks....

*Commercial Break Over*

Segment Six... finally we get to the rebranding of Sci-Fi into SyFy.... and believe it or not, the reasoning and discussion by the stars and critics makes for interesting listening. They dovetail the discussion into Warehouse 13's success as the flagship symbol of the new channel direction. Transitioning into a tribute of Eureka (can you believe that the network originally didn't want it to be humorous?) and its legacy. The segment ends with an analysis/overlook of the Haven series. Did not know that women, more than Stephen King fans, are the major demographic for the show...

*Commercial Break* Switching over to Monday Night Football for a sec.... and it's 35-7 Patriots over the Texans... Ok I won't switching back there now. I flip over to Monday Night Raw in time to see Kofi Kingston leap across the ring. I always look in awe at his ability to leap across the ring. Unfortunately, this breaking news also just came across my newsfeed...

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/gail-simone-no-longer-the-writer-of-batgirl/

First, Karen Berger, visionary of Vertigo leaves, now Gail Simone? O-oh...

*Commercial Break Over*

Heading into part seven, now we get into the new generation of shows starting off the US version of Being Human as a metaphor for dealing with destructive addictions. This followed by an analysis of Lost Girl as a symbol of female empowerment and sexual freedom. Sanctuary comes in next as the pioneer of the webseries/tv series hybrid. Ending off with a review of Alphas and the unique physics/psychology behind the show. I didn't really learn anything new here to tell you the truth because we at The ComicShoppe have already explored these topics with each show in depth and we'll probably explore them in the future with their (knocks on wood) continued success.

*Commercial Break* Finally because I like the way that David Brothers makes EVERYONE think:

http://4thletter.net/2012/11/me-and-my-people-got-history-why-how-i-write-about-race/

Interesting viewpoints about Marvel Comics in the 70's. Then he follows up with this gem which includes a retrospective look at one of my favorite movies growing up, The Mack!

http://4thletter.net/2012/11/gotta-think-outside-the-box-know-how-to-connect-the-dots/

*Commercial Break Over*

Last up in the final segment, an analysis of shows coming in the near future from the network: Continuum looks to be a mix of Alcatraz and Timecop as a cop (Rachael Nichols) from 2077 gets sent back in time along with a LOT of convicts to 2017 Vancouver... Blood and Chrome we have discussed about on the 'net show but the visuals given in the preview are absolutely stunning. Finally, Defiance, the web/tv/video game combo is given its due and damn.. this really does look like District 9 meets Halo on the Earth of Mass Effect. I got to see how the gaming interface meshes with weekly show. Consider my interest piqued....

I'll end this blog with news about the return of Captain Carrot:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/12/captain-carrot-hopping-into-new-52-as-thresholds-krot/

What...the...FRAK????

Until Next Time Readers, Keep Fantasizing!

Hey! It's The Mid Week Edition of Afronerd Radio! Wed@6:30pm: Discussing Man of steel trailer; Univ. of TX Professor Charged with Racism; Wozniacki vs Serena Williams & More!

We're back once AGAIN, for Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review broadcast-this Wednesday at 6:30pm eastern standard. Listen to Dburt and Captain Kirk unravel the following current event laden topics: a University of Texas professor is accused of racism for affirming that the root cause for underperforming Black students is tied to culture and single parenting; the latest Man of Steel trailer makes it to the net; Dburt calls The Rob Redding Show to break down the latest Jamie Foxx as Django "nontroversy" and lastly, tennis player, Caroline Wozniacki is in hot water for what some have deemed racially insensitive for her on court Serena Williams impersonation. Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

Hey! It's The Mid Week Edition of Afronerd Radio! Wed@6:30pm

Further Evidence That Truth is Stranger Than Fiction! Listen to Afronerd's Double Feature Shows @6 & 7pm; Interview w/Filmmaker, Hilton Ariel Ruiz and his Ironic Story w/The Real Life Walking Dead Shooting!

Never let it be said that here at Afronerd Radio, we are not familiar with the term "irony." But first, let's give you a rundown relating to the show, shall we? Welcome to the Double-feature/Grindhouse edition of Afronerd starting with The Comic Shoppe at 6pm and ending with Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk at 7pm. For The Comic Shoppe, join Daryll B., Captain Kirk and Dburt as they discuss the following "pulp" culture topics: the crew's initial impressions of the new Star Trek into the Darkness teaser trailer which was released on the net a few days ago; our take on the latest Arrow episode including an appearance by the Huntress; more on 2014's X-Men sequel, Days of Future Past; UK's Misfits gets greenlighted for a movie, including the return of the original cast; legendary Neo-Soul songstress/actress makes an appearance on Fox's Fringe and lastly, a synopsis of David Brother's 4th Letter blog entry on race, comics and the evolution of Marvel's Luke Cage. Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

Next up, we have to address the aforementioned concept of irony as it relates to this week's Afronerd Radio broadcast.

vidaru.com : Zombie with a Shotgun ~ E : Zombie Natch Der Untoten

Listen to Dburt and Captain Kirk at 7pm eastern as they wax on the following weekly events, happenings, tragedies (and mishaps): the crew welcomes back colleague and friend of the show, filmmaker Hilton Ariel Ruiz (Zombie with a Shotgun; AIR: The True Memoirs of Gil C. Alicea; The Forty-Deuce) to discuss his ironic (there goes that word again) connection to a real life horror centered around the Walking Dead TV series (and by extension, Zombie with a Shotgun, above); a UK teacher decides to give her class an assignment involving the development of a business plan for the transatlantic slave trade; for our Blue Area segment, Nigerian businesswoman Folorunsho Alakija surpasses media mogul, Oprah Winfrey as the wealthiest Black woman in the world and picking up from last week's episode-our thoughts on a recent Daily News op ed by Dr. John McWhorter affirming that racism appears to be waning in the U.S. Folks, we assure you that this Sunday's broadcast will be one for the ages! See you all at starting at 6pm sharp!

Grindhouse Sundays @ 6pm-Interview w/Hilton Ariel Ruiz

Afronerd-Tune in 2 Our Mid Week in Review show! @7pm EST

Now's the time to keep our show description cultured, informative and brief. Join Captain Kirk and Dburt Wednesday at 7pm to discuss the following topics: picking up where we left off regarding past shows (2.5 men and Angus Jones' meltdown, and our Powerball fantasies); the trials and tribulations of Susan Rice; more on the Javon Belcher tragedy; what happens when a mother puts her child up for adoption without telling her husband; love him or hate him, Bill O'Reilly is right when it comes to Gangnam Style and lastly, is Manhattan Institute fellow, author and columnist, Dr. John McWhorter correct with his recent NY Daily News positing that racism is waning? Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

Afronerd-Tune in 2 Our Mid Week in Review show! @7pm EST

Oh and then there's The Young Turk's view of Mr. O'Reilly's opinion of the Gangnam Style phenomenon:

Tis The Holiday Season! Comic Shoppe @6pm & Afronerd @7pm! New Batman?; Rise of the Black Nerd?; Death of Jordan Davis & More-Latest Daryll B Blog Entry!

Please accept our apologies for Wednesday's preempted broadcast but we promise to make up for lost time with tonight's double feature show! Let's keep it terse and to the point, folks! Join Dburt, Daryll B. and Captain Kirk for The Comic Shoppe airing at 6pm. The topics on the table this time are: the crew extrapolates the true meaning behind a recent Washington Post blog entry that examines the rise of the Black nerd; DC comics has announced the 2013 release of an event comic series centered on the exchange of hero match ups with (other heroes') different villains; and with the news of this forthcoming series. the team ponders on other changes or storylines that would be would considered if they were in control of their favorite comic companies; the truth behind Joseph Gordon Levitt taking the mantle of the bat for the next Dark Knight/JLA proposition as well as additional pulp/pop related issues that are bound to come up during this Yuletide airing. Call the hosts live at 646-915-9620.

And would you believe that after the Comic Shoppe colloquium, there's still more show! At 7pm continue listening to Afronerd Radio with your hosts, Dburt and Captain Kirk. The topics-Does the untimely and tragic death of Florida teen, Jordan Davis smell like Trayvon Martin 2.0?; what's up with pop culture youth? singer, Chris Brown and Two and a Half Men actor, Angus T. Jones have respective public meltdowns; our Powerball fantasies; why the jellyfish might hold the key to biological immortality and if time permits, we will pick up on any stories left on the proverbial table from our last broadcast.

Tis The Holiday Season! Comic Shoppe @6pm & Afronerd @7pm!

And without further adieu, feel free to peruse the latest musings from The Shoppe's own Daryll B:

Hi AfroNerd Readers. Once again in a growing effort to curb Daryll B.'s growing negativity, we at the AfroNerd Mothership have "enlisted" him into doing a set of mini reviews of his Black Friday reviews....

*muffled sounds coming from the back*

... wow. That wind outside is really howling outside today huh? Without further adieu...

Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith is everything I could want in a DC series about a boy magically transforming into an adult hero by the award winning creator of Bone. Endearing, humorous, with a tinge of dramatic horror, Shazam really was made for both kids and adults and is the perfect gateway drug into comics.

Similar in nature, Power Girl: A New Beginning by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Amanda Conner may be more adult but has the same gateway properties. This is the book to give as an example of a fresh start for a well known character but not ignoring the previous history. Karen Starr's JSA ties and her mentor relationship with newish hero iteration of Terra were well represented here. I wish that this book was continued into the Nu-52

I feel the same about Michael Jon Carter and felt the need to pick up two of his adventures: Booster Gold: Blue & Gold by Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, Dan Jurgens, and Norm Rapmund and Booster Gold: Day of Death by Dan Jurgens, and Norm Rapmund. Hijinks through the DC Universe timeline with him and various superheroes are just the right medicine for a story continuity junkie like me. The way the creative teams handled the burden was almost note perfect.

I wanted to complete some of my book runs and saw Blue Beetle: Reach For The Stars by John Rogers and Rafael Albuquerque and couldn't resist picking it up. Jaime Reyes' is a major, yet minor character in his own book as his family and supporting cast of friends continued to steal the show out from under him. As a bonus, you see his first interactions with the Teen Titans, echoing what is now being shown in the Young Justice cartoon.

Going a little astray from the cartoon, Space Ghost by Joe Kelly and Ariel Olivetti is a VERY adult origin story for the 60's superhero turned 90's talk show host. Olivetti's realistic painted style captures a "Training Day" type story of betrayal, loss, revenge, and redemption. I don't think his original creators ever thought about going this in-depth with his story. However, it was well developed and that was probably the scariest Zorak I have ever seen....

Speaking of in-depth, Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla is right up there with Prodigal as my favorite "Dick Grayson as Batman" stories. Two different but interconnected stories made up this hardcover colored by the themes of "would our heroes have to become monsters themselves to stop monsters?" and "are we born evil or is evil thrust upon us by circumstances?". Hell, the story involving Commissioner Gordon's son will have you needing to take a shower immediately afterwards.

On the other end of the spectrum, SuperZombies by Marc Guggenheim, Vince Gonzales, and Mel Rubi wasn't really that scary to me but did succeed in combining political intrigue, and superhero tropes. This was a "Supreme Power meets Rising Stars in the world of Dead Rising" attempt and although very ambitious, I think it missed the mark when trying to be scary.

*muffled sounds in background getting louder*

The movie might not have made as big of a splash like some intended but WhiteOut by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber is a great example of a Frank Miller influenced book that takes place far outside conventional noir surroundings. The very idea of a murder happening in a place like an Arctic Station and you being confined with an unknown killer with no escape is a great premise. Rucka and Lieber truly made this whodunit into a thriller in the vein of any Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes novel.

Ka-Zar by Mark Waid and Andy Kubert is an example of one of Mark Waid's strengths. He takes a familar hero and provides a new angle that hooks readers' attention. The corrupting influence of technology is a theme we explore today and Waid was doing that with Ka-Zar in the mid-90's. Granted we don't live in the Savage Land but the family and social issues raised are the axis in which this book is anchored.

While I loved the facelift to that classic character, sometimes the classic tales are best and as a immediate follow up to Under Siege, Avengers: Assault On Olympus by Roger Stern, John Buscema, Tom Palmer, Bob Harras, Bob Hall, and Kyle Baker falls right into that category. Hercules took a horrific, near death beating by The Masters of Evil and the ramifications of healing him are the foundation for the adventure here. I really don't know why Marvel didn't collect this tale sooner but I'm glad they finally did cause it rocked from the start.

From there, I went back to the future with Amazing Spider-Man: Spider Island by Dan Slott, Rick Remender, Humberto Ramos, Stefano Caselli, and Tom Fowler. I have to say that I underestimated the foundations that Dan Slott laid and how well Remender followed his lead with the Venom tie-ins. Still it is hard for me to believe that NO ONE got out of Manhattan possessing spidey powers when it was essentially only security "road blocks" keeping the populace in. But this is nothing new for me because I did read Planet of the Symbiotes from the Spideyverse during the late '90s. Logistics have never been one of this universe's strengths.

*Loud audible bangs heard from door*

Finally, I picked up Franklin Richards Son of a Genius Ultimate Collection 1 and 2 by Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerak to complete my shop-a-thon. With all the serious stories, it was nice to grab these 2 collections of the youngster's misadventures in the Marvel Universe. These books are perfect in tone for kids/younger readers and for everyone that has a lil kid within their personality....

*Door crashes in*

***You MOTHERLESS SON OF A..... Jump me and steal my blog time will u? I'm going to...is that my blog??? I'm going to throttle you!!!!***

Ok Folks! Seems my acidic personality has woken up. So I better run. Until next time...

***I'm going to kill you***

...Keep Fantasizing!!!